Effect of Lower Limb Exproprioception Training in Virtual Environment on Locomotion Performance in Stroke Patients

National Cheng Kung University

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Exercise Training; Spatial Perception; Stroke; Exproprioception; Virtual Reality

Treatments: Other: Virtual reality foot placement training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04436237

A-ER-108-183

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine if a virtual reality training of foot placement with or without visual cues about the location of the foot in the environment would improve locomotion-related function in persons in the chronic stage of stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive twice per week, for a total of 2 weeks' training with visual cues (control group) or without (experimental group). It was hypothesized that the experimental group would be able to place the foot closer to the target when stepping and have more symmetrical gait. So far, 22 stroke patients completed the experiment. Preliminary results support the hypothesis. This project is still ongoing.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• first time unilateral stroke and onset over 6 months
• able to independent walking with or without aids over 10 meters
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score above 24
• orientation intake, able to identify right and left
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision, able to see the 2 cm diameter circle on the floor while standing

Exclusion criteria

• gait nearly normal
• had other neurological and musculoskeletal disease which can affect walking ability
• hemineglect
• use virtual reality device will severely discomfort, such as headaches, blurred vision, vertigo or vomiting

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Non-visual exproprioception training

Experimental group

Description:

The training requires the participant to place the foot at a target without visual cues of the foot in virtual environment.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual reality foot placement training

Visual exproprioception group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The training requires the participant to place the foot at a target with visual cues of the foot in virtual environment.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual reality foot placement training